Tigers clawing back Edwards

RICHMOND'S Shane Edwards has been embroiled in a tug-of-war between the Tigers and the indigenous All-Stars team in the lead-up to Friday's exhibition game in Alice Springs.

Tigers coach Damien Hardwick and the All-Stars' Michael O'Loughlin both want Edwards, and the indigenous team's management had hoped to persuade the 24-year-old to play with the All-Stars in the days leading up to the game.

However Hardwick had made it clear he wanted Edwards in the Tigers' team given the club is treating the game as a crucial platform in its 2013 season preparation.

With captain Lance Franklin the latest and largest in a list of withdrawals from the All-Stars, O'Loughlin had made his wishes known even before the loss of his indigenous skipper.

''We want him in the side,'' O'Loughlin said of Edwards. ''Obviously we'd love him to play with us and I can understand it's a bit awkward for him because we are playing against Richmond, which is his side, but in the end it's up to him. I'm planning on talking to him again later.''

The All-Stars game has traditionally been fraught with political issues. Last year the match was cancelled after dangerous weather in Alice Springs led to the AFL stopping the Tigers from flying out of Melbourne. But even before the cancellation O'Loughlin and Adam Goodes had been unhappy with the Tigers for leaving out a number of big names from the squad.

Goodes, Cyril Rioli and Shaun Burgoyne had already withdrawn from the 2013 team before the loss of Franklin, whose selection and captaincy had been the subject of some strong behind-the-scenes lobbying and something of a coup for the AFL and the concept of the All-Stars.

Edwards, who told Fairfax Media last year he strongly identified with his indigenous heritage despite not being named as indigenous in AFL records in his early years, was to spend the week in the All-Stars' training camp.

In the past indigenous footballers representing the opposition have been known to push to play for the All-Stars although Essendon's indigenous players played for the Bombers in their last All-Stars clash.

While Edwards might have been torn, he assured the Tigers he would play for Richmond on Friday. ''We sent in our squads to the AFL last week and he was on our list,'' said Richmond's football boss Craig Cameron. ''He told Damien he wanted to play for Richmond. He's a Richmond player.''

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